India vs Australia 2017, 1st T20I: 5 reasons why India got the better of the Aussies at Ranchi
The India-Australia T20I series began in remarkable fashion as India won a rain-hit match at Ranchi by 9 wickets with three balls to spare. Australia were without Steve Smith and batted first. With the exception of Aaron Finch, the Aussie batting disappointed and from a run-rate of 7.7 in the 10th over, Australia’s run-rate went down to just above 6 during the 19th over.
At this point, rain stepped in and India were handed a target of only 48 in 6 overs. They lost Rohit Sharma early but Virat Kohli and Shikhar Dhawan batted sensibly to take India past the finishing line in the final over.
Let’s take a look at 5 reasons why India were able to register their 7th successive T20I win over Australia.
#5. Brilliant bowling by Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal
Once again, India’s new spin-bowling duo of Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal impressed for the Men in Blue. Both spinners bowled exceptionally well and they were the paramount reason behind Australia’s downfall.
First, Chahal dismissed the dangerous Glenn Maxwell for the fourth time in as many games before Yadav bowled out the dangerous Aaron Finch for 42 with a baffling quick delivery which Finch couldn’t quite judge. Then, Yadav took his second wicket by bowling Moises Henriques with a pitched up slow delivery.
While Kuldeep ended with 2/23 from his four overs, Chahal was more economical with 1/16 from his four. Looking at the way these two have been bowling throughout the series, there is a very good chance that India may have found the ideal successors to Ravi Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja.